Beach Day for the Bride

Between us, Bill and I have six boys. No daughter-in-laws and no grandkids.  Until now. Almost.

The oldest, Brian, is getting married on March 7! 

Brian and Shalise
 

Shalise is a delightful young woman who we adore. They are wonderful together.  In the middle of wedding preparations came the great news that they are expecting!  Baby Smith is due the middle of August!!

They have been working hard on all the pre-wedding stuff and a day of relaxation was in order.  Shalise and I headed to a beach house in San Clemente to meet her mom and girlfriends, while Brian enjoyed a day of doing absolutely nothing - bliss for both :-)

 

The parking lot for our lunch spot was the smallest I've ever seen, but it did have one thing that really stood out for me.

 



A personalized spot just for......me?

After waiting for our table and a bit longer for the rest of our party we enjoyed a delicious brunch at Café Rae. It is a bright and cheerful little place with tasty organic offerings.  I forgot to get a photo, but everybody loved their choices!

Knowing it was likely to rain we got a condo with enough space for everyone to hang out indoors.  We couldn't check in until 3:00 so we took a chance and headed to the beach.  The stormy skies were beautiful and gave the water a most wonderful color.  We walked down the sand, turning over smooth stones and looking for non-existent shells. The sun peeked out occasionally and the light breeze was refreshing.  Getting to the beach meant descending a very long series of stairs, many that were broken. As soon as I got to the bottom I was already dreading the climb back up!

Storm threatening over calm waves

Many stones but no shells - and no crowds

Bundled up while finding treasures

Killer stairs

After making a "pit stop" at the parking lot, we took the walking trail back. It is well maintained with lovely flowers.  We found a different staircase that looked maybe a little shorter, and definitely in better shape being solid concrete.  Still very steep, I had to make several stops including resting on a bench with a little street art to enjoy. Made it to the top alive.  I really have to work on my leg strength and stamina if I'm going to be hiking all those cool trails!



Flowered path

They are much steeper than they look!

Groovy street art

Shalise got the key, opened the door, and we all said "Wow!" at the same time. The view was incredible!  Lots of big windows and a small patio overlooking water and sky for miles. 

 

Others started arriving, including the massage therapist, and it started to feel like a real celebration. 

 

 

 

Huge living room, everyone in the kitchen



Made me laugh

Girls!

The colors changed continuously with
the movement of the clouds

 

Unfortunately I had to drive back (Shalise's mom was bringing her back in the morning), so I headed out before it got dark.

 

We had no rain on our drive down and no more than a few drops at the beach. It was dry most of the way back as well, but the sky to the north was definitely looking angry.  About Griffith Park both the rain and the traffic started. I arrived safely home a short time later.

 

Out of a wall of gray the sunset burst like a wildfire on the horizon!



It was a wonderful day at the beach celebrating the bride-to-be.  A week from now I'll be a mother-in-law!